Officer Involved Shootings Down In Fresno

Just one day after the city of Tulare reports their first officer involved shooting of the year, we’re taking a look at the trend here in Fresno.

Just a few years ago, Fresno officers were involved in shootings, on average, once a month, but today, Chief Jerry Dyer says their hasn’t been one in more than six months.

"Officer involved shootings were down by 27 percent," Fresno Police Chief Jerry Dyer said.

Back in 2010, officers were involved in 12 shootings. That number has fluctuated over the years:

2010 – 12
2011 – 11
2012 – 9
2013 – 11
2014 – 8

And so far for 2015, there’s been zero.

"There’s a lot of factors as to why that could occur, certainly the increased training that we’ve provided on the escalation of force, the mental health awareness training, to help officers recognize those individuals with mental health issues," Dyer said.

But he says what’s going on in places like Ferguson, and most recently, Baltimore, is also making a difference.

"There is an impact from the national climate, where police officers in general are in a conflict avoidance mode," Dyer said.

And he says their community outreach programs are also making people less conflict-oriented with cops.

"So that when we have contact with them, it’s done in a more positive manner," Dyer said.

Dyer says avoiding conflict is good as long as it doesn’t keep the cops from doing their job.

"As long as it’s not done at the risk of preventing a person out there committing a crime or suspected of committing a crime from not being detained by officers," Dyer said.

Community activists like Rebeca Rangel credit Chief Dyer, but say the work of an outside auditor monitoring department activity has also been instrumental .

"What he does is he takes reports, OIS reports, and he reviews them, absolutely from top to bottom and he makes recommendations," Rangel said.

Chief Dyer was also proud to announce that from 2013 – 2014, citizen complaints were down 16 percent, and use of force complaints were down 29 percent.